ROGER HOLT SENTENCED IN LEICESTER FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON FOUR-YEAR-OLD GIRL
In September 2017, a Leicester court jailed 74-year-old Roger Holt after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl, causing lasting trauma.Holt, of Babingley Drive, Stadium Estate, Leicester, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.
A mother, who cannot be named to protect her daughter’s identity, spoke emotionally during the sentencing hearing about the devastating impact of the abuse on her family.
She described how her daughter, now six, had been profoundly changed by the ordeal, saying: “Last year when I found out my daughter had been sexually assaulted my family’s life changed forever.
It’s hard to put into words just how much this has impacted on my whole family.
She will mention what happened to her and it really upsets her.
No child of six should have these memories.
There are no words to say how much I despise the man who has done this to her, and no sentence will be as long as the one he has given us.” The mother also expressed concern that her daughter might never fully trust men again and revealed her own mental health had suffered so greatly that she was reported missing at one point, prompting a police helicopter search.
Prosecutor Lynsey Knott explained how the victim’s changed behaviour was noticed in August 2016, leading her mother to discover the abuse.
The girl disclosed that Holt had made her touch him during visits to her home.
Holt initially denied the allegations but confessed the following month.
After his guilty plea in court, the girl further disclosed additional details of sexual offences.
According to Miss Knott, the girl described how Holt had touched her with his hands over and under her clothing, including an incident where he covered her eyes with his hand while touching her.
During sentencing, Recorder David Herbert commented, “You behaved as you did for your own sexual gratification.
Your offending was a gross breach of trust committed on a very young child who was particularly vulnerable due to her young age.
The effect upon her and her family has been severe.” Holt will remain on the sex offenders register and is prohibited from working with children upon his release.
